10 Best Hikes in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Dolomites
Cortina d’Ampezzo is one of the most beautiful towns in the Dolomites and the perfect base camp for an epic itinerary. Although you can experience the stunning mountain views from roadside viewpoints, I highly recommend adding a few hikes to your itinerary. Trust me, you will fall in love with hiking in Cortina d’Ampezzo!
We spent the majority of our time in the Dolomites in Cortina d’Ampezzo because it was a great base camp for most of our bucket list hikes. We spent our days hiking its many trails, and let me tell you, they did not disappoint! We were in awe of the breathtaking mountain views from each trail.
If you want to hike in the Dolomites, you are in the right place! This guide has everything you need to know about the best hikes in Cortina d’Ampezzo, including popular trails and hidden gems. Get your hiking boots and cameras ready!
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Tips for Hiking in Cortina d’Ampezzo
Cortina d’Ampezzo has stunning trails that should be on every bucket list, but some require advanced planning. Keep these things in mind when creating your itinerary!
Check Gondola schedules. Some hikes in Cortina d’Ampezzo require a gondola ride. Most gondolas are only open from May to October, and opening times change depending on the month. If you are visiting a popular area, I recommend getting the first gondola of the day to avoid lines and enjoy the trails with fewer people.
Have some cash for toilets and rifugios. We ran into a few instances where rifugios only accepted cash. For example, the rifugios near Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Cadini di Misurina are cash-only for food and use of their toilets.
Pack layers and a rain jacket. The Dolomites have unpredictable weather, making it crucial to pack gear just in case. The weather is also cooler at the top of the gondolas than in nearby towns, especially in the morning. We always carried at least a light jacket to help.
Wear sunscreen. I know this may sound obvious, but it is crucial to wear sunscreen, especially when you are hiking. Many hikes are at higher elevations, and you can get sunburned pretty quickly. Trust me, we made that mistake on our first day because we did not think the sun would be that strong when we visited in September.
If you are celiac, download the AIC app. My husband is celiac, and I have a gluten allergy, so we were a bit nervous traveling to Italy. Luckily, Italy has a great program for celiacs, and restaurants can become AIC-accredited, which means they take precautions to create a safe environment for celiacs to eat. Tourists can download the app for 14 days for under $5, which we used throughout our trip. It was incredibly helpful, and we found a great restaurant in Cortina d’Ampezzo from the app!
Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some of these spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they do not have trash bins, you can throw your trash away once you reach a trash bin.
What to Pack for Hiking in Cortina d’Ampezzo
Even though not all these hikes are strenuous, it is crucial to be prepared with the correct gear and layers. The mountain weather in Italy can be unpredictable, so it is crucial to pack the right gear and layers for the season you visit. When we were in the Dolomites, the weather could go from sunny to rainy in just a few hours.
This is a great baseline for what to pack, and you can adjust as needed:
- hiking boots
- moisture-wicking clothes
- hiking backpack
- food and water
- rain jacket
- fleece jacket
- insulated jacket
- sunscreen
Where to Stay in Cortina d’Ampezzo
Cortina d’Ampezzo has hotels, campsites, and glamping cabins, so you can find the perfect place to stay. We loved staying in Cortina d’Ampezzo because it was a central location to everything on our itinerary in the eastern Dolomites.
Hotels
Many accommodations in Cortina d’Ampezzo are on the more expensive side because it is one of the best places to stay, but it has hotels for different budgets, so you can find something that works for you.
Radisson Residences Savoia Palace (we stayed here and enjoyed it because we had a kitchenette)
Grand Hotel Savoia (Luxury)
HOTEL de LËN (Luxury)
Campgrounds
If you plan to camp or are roadtripping in a campervan, you are in luck! Cortina d’Ampezzo has campgrounds nearby, and some even have glamping accommodations. Even though they are not downtown, these campgrounds are close enough that you can drive into town when needed.
International Camping Olympia - campsites, glamping pods, and chalets
Camping Rocchetta - campsites and lodge rooms
Camping Dolomiti - campsites
Map of Hikes in Cortina d’Ampezzo
Stunning Hikes in Cortina d’Ampezzo
Cortina d’Ampezzo has many stunning hikes, and this guide reviews a few of them. I recommend adding at least a couple of hikes to your Dolomites itinerary because hiking is one of the best ways to experience the breathtaking mountain views.
Tre Cime di Lavaredo
Note: Starting in 2025, you must reserve your parking space in advance at Rifugio Auronzo or take a bus from Cortina d’Ampezzo. I recommend reserving it as far in advance as possible because they book up quickly, especially in the summer. The reservation allows you to stay in the parking lot for up to 12 hours, which is perfect if you want to hike to both Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Cadini di Misurina. I also recommend booking an early timeslot to enjoy the trails with fewer crowds.
Tre Cime di Lavaredo is one of the most popular hikes in the Dolomites and should be on every bucket list. It was easily one of my favorite hikes in Cortina d’Ampezzo!
And the best part? You have a few ways to explore Tre Cime di Lavaredo. You can enjoy a shorter hike to a popular viewpoint or hike a longer loop around Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Honestly, you cannot go wrong with either option!
If you only want to hike to the iconic view of the three peaks, you can hike an out-and-back 3-mile round trip trail to the Forcella Lavaredo viewpoint. I also recommend taking a quick detour to the monument near the chapel on the way back for more spectacular views of Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
If you want to experience everything Tre Cime di Lavaredo has to offer, I recommend hiking the 6.2-mile loop around the three peaks. This entire hike has stunning views, making it worth every ounce of effort. You can even extend the hike in a few areas to get additional viewpoints, including a few lakes near Rifugio Locatelli.
Cadini di Misurina
Note: Starting in 2025, you must reserve your parking space in advance at Rifugio Auronzo or take a bus from Cortina d’Ampezzo. I recommend reserving it as far in advance as possible because they book up quickly, especially in the summer. The reservation allows you to stay in the parking lot for up to 12 hours, which is perfect if you want to hike to both Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Cadini di Misurina. I also recommend booking an early timeslot to enjoy the trails with fewer crowds.
Cadini di Misurina is another iconic hike in Cortina d’Ampezzo, and you have likely seen it during your research. It has an iconic viewpoint with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. And it starts at the same trailhead as Tre Cime di Lavaredo, so you can hike both trails on the same day!
Cadini di Misurina begins at Rifugio Auronzo and immediately descends before ascending steeply to the ridge. The 2-mile round trip hike is steep in some areas but not technical.
If you want to visit the iconic viewpoint, you likely will have to wait in line. I passed a hiker who told me they waited over an hour to get a photo because everyone took about 15-20 minutes at the viewpoint. Sunrise and sunset tend to have fewer people, but even then, you will have to wait in a short line.
Instead of visiting the iconic viewpoint, I explored the trails around it, which I highly recommend! I shared these viewpoints with a handful of people, and the views are just as breathtaking!
Lake Misurina
Lake Misurina is the largest lake in the Dolomites and sits just east of Cortina d’Ampezzo. The lake has a small town on its shores and breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.
Although you can see the views from the road, I recommend hiking the 1.7-mile loop around Lake Misurina. It is a pleasant hike, offering incredible views along the entire trail.
If you finish hiking Cadini di Misurina and Tre Cime di Lavaredo with daylight to spare, I recommend stopping at Lake Misurina on the way back to Cortina d’Ampezzo. It is the perfect place to stretch your legs and enjoy more beautiful views!
Col de la Puina
Col de la Puina is a hidden gem hike near Cortina d’Ampezzo. It is south of Cortina d’Ampezzo near Mount Pelmo, one of the tallest mountains in the Dolomites, and the hike offers breathtaking views of it.
The 5-mile round trip trail starts in the treeline, but it opens up as you approach Rifugio Citta di Fiume, giving you the first glimpse of the views. After the rifugio, the trail steeply ascends to Col de la Puina, and this section can be difficult to follow at times. As always, you should have a map to help you navigate, especially on this trail.
Once you reach Col de la Puina, you are rewarded with breathtaking 360-degree views of Mount Pelmo and the surrounding mountains. The second half of this hike is strenuous, but the views make the effort worth it.
Cinque Torri
Cinque Torri is one of the most unique hikes near Cortina d’Ampezzo because it has a WWI open-air museum with historic bunkers and trenches. It easily became one of our favorite hikes!
You can either start the hike from the parking lot, hiking up a 1.6-mile one-way trail, or riding the gondola to the top, then beginning the loop around Cinque Torri. We rode the gondola because it was easier, and the views along it were stunning!
Once at the top, you can hike an easy 1.3-mile loop around Cinque Torri, which provides stunning views of the rock formations and surrounding mountains and brings you through the WWI open-air museum. We loved exploring the historic bunkers and trenches and learning more about the history.
If you want a longer hike, you can add Rifugio Averau onto the hike for a total of 2.3 miles round trip. Our original plan was to hike to the rifugio, but the weather quickly changed, bringing in rain, so we were only able to hike the Cinque Torri Loop. But the hike was still stunning!
Lagazuoi Tunnels
If you want to explore more WWI bunkers and tunnels near Cortina d’Ampezzo, you are in luck! Lagazoui stands at over 9,000 feet tall, offering incredible 360-degree views, and it has a trail with WWI tunnels and bunkers.
I recommend riding the steep gondola from Passo Falzarego to Rifugio Lagazuoi, then hiking the 2.2-mile trail back to Passo Falzarego. The descent provides beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and passes a few WWI bunkers and tunnels. It is a steady descent, climbing down 2,000 feet of elevation in two miles, but the views make it worth it!
Lago di Braies
Note: Between July and September, access to Lago di Braies is restricted between 9:30 am and 4:00 pm. You can either take a bus or visit outside of the timeframe.
Lago di Braies is one of the most iconic lakes near Cortina d’Ampezzo, known for its turquoise water. Although you can enjoy the views from the lake’s shores, I recommend hiking the loop around it.
Since access is restricted most of the day, I recommend visiting Lago di Braies before 9:30 am or after 4:00 pm. It is a wonderful spot for sunrise and sunset, and it will likely have fewer crowds. The lake was not crowded at all when we visited for sunset.
The 2.3-mile loop around Lago di Braies is a peaceful hike with beautiful views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Many people skip the hike, but it offers unique views of the lake and surrounding mountains.
You can also rent a boat to explore Lago di Braies from its water, but it is expensive. When we went, it was 55€ for 45 minutes, so we skipped it.
Croda da Lago & Lago Federa
If you are looking for a stunning, lesser-known hike in Cortina d’Ampezzo, look no further! The Croda da Lago Circuit is a breathtaking hike, but it makes you work for those views, gaining 3,000 feet of elevation.
One of the best things about the Crado da Lago Circuit is that it is one of the lesser-known hikes in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Most trails are crowded in summer, but this one tends to have fewer crowds, which is a nice change of pace. Even though it is lesser-known, the parking lot is small, so I recommend arriving early to secure a spot.
The 8-mile hike loops around Crado da Lago, providing breathtaking views of the spiky mountains and nearby lakes. You can hike the loop in either direction, but if you want to descend the steepest section, you should follow it clockwise.
If you do not want to hike the entire loop, you can hike just to Lago Federa, which is 5.5 miles round trip. Once you arrive at Lago Federa, you can hike around the lake or enjoy a bite to eat at the rifugio before continuing on the loop.
If you want to continue on the entire loop, you will get stunning views from Forcella Ambrizzola and Forcella Rossa del Formin. The trail is steep and rocky, but you get beautiful views of Croda da Lago and the surrounding mountains.
Lago di Sorapis
Lago di Sorapis is another iconic hike in Cortina d’Ampezzo, bringing you to a bright blue lake with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. It is one of the most popular hikes, so I recommend arriving early to enjoy it before the crowds arrive.
The 8-mile round trip hike to Lago di Sorapis is not easy and will make you work for the views, with 2,000 feet of elevation and a few exposed sections. It is one of the more strenuous hikes near Cortina d’Ampezzo, but the views make the effort worth it!
The first half of the trail leads you through a beautiful forest before bringing you out on an exposed trail. The second half is exposed and steep, but once you arrive at the top, you are rewarded with breathtaking views of Lago di Sorapis.
Lago di Limides
Lade di Limides is a lesser-known hike in Cortina d’Ampezzo, with beautiful views of the lake and the surrounding mountains! It is near Cinque Torri and the Lagazuoi Tunnels, making it another great stop while you are in the area.
The trailhead is off Passo Falzarego near Ristorante Grill Da Strobel. The 1.5-mile round trip trail steadily climbs all the way to Lago di Limides, providing views of Tofana di Rozes along the way.
The views along the entire hike are stunning, so you do not have to wait until the end to enjoy them! If you love taking photos, you can get a reflection shot of the mountains on the lake, too.
If you want to hike in the Dolomites, this guide is the perfect place to start planning. It has everything you need to know about the best hikes in Cortina d’Ampezzo to add to your itinerary.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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